Events

Regular performances take place on Sundays and Feasts at the Metropolitan Cathedral, Mdina. You can here the Cathedral organs typically between 10.35 and 11a.m. on these days.

Other recent salient public performances included:

6th April 2006 - St. John of the Cross Church, Ta' Xbiex, Malta.

Solo organ recital of improvised organ meditations on projected still images from Mel Gibson’s film ‘The Passion of the Christ’ – the first ever entire organ improvisation concert in Malta.

19th May 2006 - Metropolitan Cathedral, Mdina

Soloist and accompanist during the 50th Anniversary Celebratory Concert of the institution of the Social Security scheme in Malta under the patronage of Hon. Minister Dolores Cristina. (Works for soprano, trumpet and organ by Bach, Handel, Stanley, Clarke, Mozart, Caccini, Franck, Mascagni, and Verdi).

24th October 2006 - Metropolitan Cathedral, Mdina

Solo organ recital as part of the MCAST BTEC Certificate in Further Education Teaching Graduation Ceremony. (Works by Lidon, Martini, Boellmann, Karg-Elert).

27th October 2006 – Metropolitan Cathedral, Mdina

Soloist and accompanist to the New Choral Singers under the direction of Mro Robert Calleja in a concert in aid for the Hospice Movement. Apart from organ solos by Couperin and Karg-Elert, solely accompanied the choir in works by Rutter and played the only instrumental accompaniment of the entire Charpetier Te Deum on the organ.

18th May 2007 - St. Augustine’s Church, Valletta

Solo organ recital (Works by Vivaldi, Bach, Mendelssohn, Franck, Boellmann, Widor, Borg).

26th July 2007 - St. John of the Cross Church, Ta’ Xbiex

Organ solo and accompanist to the New Choral Singers under the direction of Mro. Robert Calleja (Works by Vaughan-Williams, Bach, Mozart, Rutter, Mathias, Franck, etc.)

5th October 2007 - St. John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta

A Concert in aid of the Hospice Movement with The New Choral Singers under
the direction of Mro. Robert Calleja. Programme includes organ solos by Buxtehude,
Mozart and Mendelssohn. The highlight of the evening will be Haydn's Little
Organ Mass. Solo organ recital (Works by Vivaldi, Bach, Mendelssohn, Franck, Boellmann, Widor, Borg).

9th October 2007 - Metropolitan Cathedral, Mdina

An organ solo concert featuring the restored 1774 Rossi pipe organ.
Works by Pachelbel, Muffat, Walond, Paolucci, Handel, Zipoli, Pasquini,
Valeri, Martini and Greene.

7th December 2008 - St. Nicholas Parish Church, Siggiewi

A short organ solo concert as part of an Academy in honour of Rev. Guze Delia, S.J., featuring the restored 1927 Inzoli pipe organ. Works by Campra, Zipoli, Greene, Bach - Fantasia in G minor BWV 542, Frescobaldi, Mozart - Ouverture in C K399.

16th April 2009 - Lija Parish Church

Two solo organ works in a concert by The New Choral Singers. Works included Marcello-Bach: Concerto in D minor, BWV 974 and Handel's Allegro, from Organ Concerto No. 10, Op. 7.

11th to 16th May 2009 - Angouleme, France

Masterclass with Maitre Jean Guillou.

27th May 2009 - Metropolitan Cathedral, Mdina

Grand Organ Concert under the distinguished patronage of HE The President of the Republic of Malta, Dr George Abela and Mrs Abela, for the 60th anniversary of the GRTU. Works by Handel - Organ Concerto No. 2 in B flat, Op. 4 No. 2; Bach - Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565; Camilleri - Wine of Peace; Mozart - Fantasia in F minor, KV 608; Mendelssohn - Sonata No. 6 in D minor, Op. 65 No. 6; and Liszt - Prelude and Fugue on BACH, S260.

24th October 2009 - Metropolitan Cathedral, Mdina

Grand Symphonic Band and Organ Concert featuring Rosabelle Bianchi, Soprano; John Aquilina, Organist; and the Band of the Armed Forces of Malta under the direction of Capt. Ivan Borg. Concert under the patronage of the Hon Prime Minister, Dr Lawrence Gonzi and Mrs Gonzi. Works by Clarke, Morricone, Vierne - Carillon de Westminster, Franck, Mascagni, Karg-Elert - Nun Danket Alle Gott, Albinoni, Gounod, McBeth, Widor - Toccata, Rozsa - Ben Hur Overture, and Handel.

24th November 2009 - Metropolitan Cathedral, Mdina

An organ solo concert under the patronage of HE the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany and Mrs Bernd Braun as part of the Embassy's celebrations of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Works by Handel - Organ Concerto No. 3 in G minor, Op. 4 No 3; Mendelssohn - Sonata No. 6 in D minor, Op. 65 No. 6; Reger - Toccata and Benedictus, Nos. 5 and 9 from "12 Pieces", Op. 59; and Bach - Toccata and Fugue in F, BWV 540.

21st February - 21st March 2010 - Metropolitan Cathedral, Mdina

Gregorian Chant and Bach Great Organ Works during Sundays during Lent 2010. The Metropolitan Cathedral Choir performed Gregorian Chants during Conventual Mass. At the end of the Mass, John Aquilina performed the following organ works:

- Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 on the 21st February

- Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 582 on the 28th February

- Fantasia and Fugue in G minor, BWV 542 on the 7th March

- Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C, BWV 564 on the 14th March

- Prelude and Fugue in E minor, BWV 548 on the 21st March.

11th April 2010 - Metropolitan Cathedral, Mdina

The concert, courtesy of the Mdina Local Council and the Rev'd Cathedral Chapter is part of the Mdina Medieval Festival. Featuring Rosabelle Bianchi, Soprano and Charles Abela, French Horn. Sacred works by Caccini, Lloyd Webber, Bellini, Vivaldi, Stradella and Parry. Great organ works by Buxtehude, Bach and Guilmant's Choral et Fugue from his Fifth Sonata, Op. 80.

13th April 2010 - Metropolitan Cathedral, Mdina

The short organ recital , courtesy of the Vilhena Band Club, Floriana and the Rev'd Cathedral Chapter preceedes the premier of the Oratorio St Publius. Organ works by Buxtehude - Prelude, Fugue & Ciacona in C, Bach - Toccata and Fugue in D minor, Couperin's Offertoire sur les Grands Jeux from the Messe pour le Couvents, and Franck's Piece Heroique.

20th - 26 October 2010 - Metropolitan Cathedral, Mdina and St. John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta

Recording of the CD "Sur la route des Orgues de Malte" with Pierre Mea (Organist of Rheims Cathedral, France). Courtesy of the French Embassy in Malta, the Metropolitan Cathedral Chapter and the St. John's Co-Cathedral Foundation. Three organs were recorded - the 1575 historic organ in the oratory of St. John's Co-Cathedral, the historic 1774 Rossi organ at Mdina Cathedral, and the 1960 Mascioni in St. John's Co-Cathedral. Jean Yves Labat de Rossi was the sound engineer.

25th November 2010 - Oratory of St. John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta

The St. John's Co-Cathedral Foundation will mark the 400th anniversary of Caravaggio's death with a short organ recital at 6p.m. by John Aquilina, entitled "Fiori Musicali" and a lecture. The music programme includes organ works by Cavazzoni, Luzzaschi, Bertoldo, Pasquini, and Frescobaldi composed during Caravaggio's lifetime. For more information, please visit: www.stjohnscocathedral.com. Entrance free of charge but requires a booking through 2248 0400.

Sundays and Feasts between the 29th November and 19th December 2010 - Mdina Cathedral

Gregorian Chant sung by the Metropolitan Cathedral Choir during Conventual Mass at 9.30a.m., followed by a short organ recital of Italian Renaissance and Baroque organ music on the historic 1774 Rossi pipe organ (starting at approximately 10.30a.m.). Programme includes organ music by Bertoldo, Cavazzoni, Corelli, Gabrieli, Frescobaldi, Luzzaschi, Pasquini, Valeri, and Zipoli.

10th December 2010 - St. John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta

Christmas organ concert organised by the French Embassy with Pierre Mea and John Aquilina. Entrance free of charge.

31st March 2010 - Mdina Cathedral

An organ solo concert under the patronage of National Statistics Office as part of its celebrations of the 40th anniversary of its establishment.

John Aquilina

Organist, Mdina Cathedral Malta